Sharrow Marine now offers propellers for inboard tow boats. The Detroit company’s V X-Pro line promises ski and wakesports enthusiasts handling and performance gains. Other propellers are optimized for Mercury’s V-10 outboards, and still others for low-horsepower outboards of 6 to 30 hp. Sharrow’s Veem series comes in diameters up to 55 inches and propels larger inboard craft.
But, the collaboration between Sharrow Engineering and Ford Motor Company may mark the most important milestone—not only for Sharrow propeller production, but also for advanced manufacturing in the recreational marine industry. By combining Sharrow’s propeller technology with Ford’s expertise in industrial manufacturing and additive production techniques, the partnership demonstrates how automotive innovation can help solve one of boating’s biggest production challenges: quick delivery.
Since its introduction in 2020, the Sharrow propeller has attracted widespread attention for its distinctive looped blade design that virtually eliminates blade-tip vortices. Our own tests have shown that Sharrow props can deliver measurable improvements in performance and handling. As word spread, demand grew, but manufacturing became an obstacle. Traditional investment casting required extraordinary precision and often stretched production lead times to as long as 130 days, limiting the company’s ability to satisfy customer demand.
Ford Motor Company entered the picture through Michigan Central, Detroit’s innovation district dedicated to connecting emerging technology companies with established manufacturing leaders. Ford’s Advanced Industrial Technology & Platforms (ATP) team worked closely with Sharrow engineers for nine months to redesign the production process using advanced 3D sand-casting techniques. Rather than relying solely on conventional investment casting, the new approach uses digitally printed sand molds capable of producing the intricate curves and tight tolerances required by the Sharrow propeller.
Manufacturing timelines have been reduced from approximately four months to about two weeks, the company reports—a breakthrough that enables Sharrow to increase production while maintaining exacting standards for its patented design. Faster production means shorter customer wait times. The partnership also highlights Ford’s growing role beyond automotive manufacturing. Ford has spent more than two decades refining industrial-scale 3D sand-casting technologies for vehicles. Applying that expertise to marine propulsion demonstrates how advanced manufacturing techniques can transfer successfully between industries. Ford also collaborated with experienced Michigan foundries to validate the new production process, combining its manufacturing knowledge with regional casting expertise to create a scalable production system.
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For Sharrow, this also represents a commitment to domestic production following expansion into a 60,000-square-foot facility in Harper Woods, Michigan. The increased capacity positions Sharrow for growth in marine and non-marine applications. The same principles could eventually be applied to drones, advanced air mobility, industrial fans, pumps, and renewable energy systems.
That aside, Sharrow is an innovator in the marine marketplace, and many boaters have embraced its propellers. It’s ability to innovate on the manufacturing side means quicker delivery, and that’s a plus, especially in a seasonal-dependent sport like boating.
